I stopped using a notebook. I downloaded a free Voice Recorder app to my Droid phone. When an idea strikes me, usually while driving, I simply talk, sing or hum it into the phone.

This mornings song writing ideas were1) Rewrite the fourth verse and compose an additional verse for my song "Eureka".2) A song about a Illinois with the recurring use of the word "Flatland" (think Ray Hubbards "Snake Farm")One line would be something like "I-l-l-i-n-o-i then add a silent S"Being a Wisconsin native and rampant Packer fan, I't will have a bit about the Chicago Bears3) Take a close look at Frank Zappa's song "Apostrophe" and see if it triggers any ideas.

Last edited by John Sargent on September 12th, 2011, 10:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

This morning 1) I started considering the poem "This Is Just To Say" by William Carlos Williams for adaptation to music. It is a very short poem but I suspect it may be copywrited. I wonder what kind of legal issues would be involved in something like this. I've adapted public domain poems before. The poem is the one with a note where the author ate all the plums and they were delicious. I think it's a great look at communication in the age of sticky notes, sound bites, texting and tweeting.

It's also the title of an old book (which turns up in free online book collections) which is set in a two dimensional world. Flatland. Apparently it's partly a satire on some aspects of Victorian society. So maybe there's a possible angle - are other aspects of the place flat, such as the attitudes, the beer, the mood, the girls, the jokes, etc.....

In the shower, where many of my songs are born, I started thinking about the storm devastation on the East Coast. I lived through a flood a few years ago and everytime I see flood reports on the news I have great empathy.I have been wanting to write about flooding and devastation for awhile but don't want to talke about one specific flood eg: Noah, Katrina, Spring rains, the recent Hurricane etc. I want it to be more general. I'm thinking the sound should be in the style of a sea shanty, think Stan Rogers.Working title and end line?"When Land Gets Taken By The Sea"outline 1st verse: About God, Noah, rainbow storyGod looked down and saw the wickedness of man. He choose Noah as the most righteous of his time. Noah built the Ark over the course of 120 years and collected the animals and things that would be saved from the deluge. The rainbow is a covenant that God vows to never send another flood to destroy the earth.

Chorus: The jealousy of the SeaThe sea remembers covering the earth, possessing and caressing the world with water. It is angry that the land was taken from it.

I like the fact that you're not just writing down lyrics. You're also creating a "to do" list that includes songs to listen to and work that you want to do on a song you've already started.

I think your idea for a song about floods will work well. But of course I would think that, since I recently wrote one about wildfires. You've already got a lot of possibilities for lyrics and you'll probably find that more ideas will come easily since you lived through a flood.

When I finished lunch I scooped up some Butter Brickle ice cream. The sound of "Butter Brickle" is so melodic that I looked it up. It's a trademark owned by the people that make the Heath Bar. I always thought that Butter Brickle was a generic flavor term like Butter Pecan, Chocolate or Vanilla.

When Land Gets Taken By the Sea - Looks like I have evicted Stan Rogers from the project though

1st (and 2nd) verse

When God looked down on the wicked ways of manWhat did he see?He saw evil, greed, lust and prideHe took no pityHe cried Noah NoahBuild an Ark for MeSave the best, leave the restCause, the land will be taken by the SeaOh the land will be taken by the Sea

It rained 40 days and 40 nightsCaptive of the tideTill the Ark came to rest on AraratCargo safe insideGod said Noah NoahThe rainbow is made by MeIt's a covenant, an acknowledgmentThe land won't be taken by the sea, No MoreThe land won't be taken by the sea

Chorus (probably more appropriately called Melody 2) The Sea said:Men all praise Your glorious prismI curse the rainbow it's my prisonI'm flooded with jealousyLet me saturate the groundMan and all his works be drownedAnd the land will be taken by the sea, by GodThe land will be taken by the sea

It's been a long weekend. In the US we had a holiday on Monday. On Friday I played at an open mike, Saturday I helped set up an 8 stage music destival. We had two of the performers as house guests for the weekend. I led a song circle for an hour at the festival. Another open mike on Monday at the fest.I am exhausted. I am also humbled. We had so many top class song writers, pickers , harp players and singers. When I consider my musical skills and my writings I feel totally inadequate. I hope this feeling will pass soon. My first inclination is to shove all my musical equipment in a closet.Part of me wants to believe that I am terminally unique, but I know that even this feeling of not being good enough is common.

MrEWorm wrote: When I consider my musical skills and my writings I feel totally inadequate. I hope this feeling will pass soon. My first inclination is to shove all my musical equipment in a closet.Part of me wants to believe that I am terminally unique, but I know that even this feeling of not being good enough is common.

+1 for the common feeling I got the same feeling last night listening to DMB on youtube and then today when my wife said, "See that is upbeat music (Jack Johnson playing)".....but I just remind myself, I can only be where I am at the moment; further than I was in the past, not where I'll be this time next year......but all I can do is be who I am in the present.....

.....and who I am isn't someone that can not JUST LISTEN to DMB and Jack Johnson....I still want to do more than just listen. I'm sure most of us do which is why we push on writing on.....

jamestoffee wrote:+1 for the common feeling ..............so keep it up, MrEWorm. If it feeds your soul, it's worth doing. James

Thanks for the words of encouragement. When Im riding a bicycle and someone goes zooming past me I need always remind myself that I'm the only one sitting in my saddle. I need to ride my own bike, not the other guys.

After all the activity of the weekend, not only was I discouraged but my back went out. I've been babying this thing all week. It even hurts to pick up the Uke. Nothing musical going on at all. Usually when this happens, it lays me up for 3-5 days.